Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/05/11 07:45 AM ET
The Obama administration has floated a transportation authorization bill that would require the study and implementation of a plan to tax automobile drivers based on how many miles they drive.
The plan is a part of the administration's "Transportation Opportunities Act," an undated draft of which was obtained this week by Transportation Weekly.
This follows a March Congressional Budget Office report that supported the idea of taxing drivers based on miles driven.
Among other things, CBO suggested that a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven; payment could take place electronically at filling stations.
The CBO report was requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has proposed taxing cars by the mile as a way to increase federal highway revenues.
Obama's proposal seems to follow up on that idea in section 2218 of the draft bill. That section would create, within the Federal Highway Administration, a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. It would be tasked with creating a "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems."
The administration seems to be aware of the need to prepare the public for what would likely be a controversial change to the way highway funds are collected. For example, the office is called on to serve a public relations function, as the draft says it should "increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches."
The draft bill says the "study framework" for the project and a public awareness communications plan should be established within two years of creating the office, and that field tests should begin within four years.
The office would be required to consider four factors in field trials: the capability of states to enforce payment, the reliability of technology, administrative costs, and "user acceptance." The draft does not specify where field trials should begin.
The new office would be funded a total of $200 million through FY 2017 for the project.
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MobileTerminal
May 5, 2011, 7:52am
Guest User
As if the per gallon charges aren't enough.
The Federal Gas Tax is 18.4 cpg About 388.6 million gallons of gasoline is consumed by the U.S. drivers in a day.
388600000 * 18.4 = $71,502,400 per day generated for the federal govt. ($26,098,376,000 per year!)
Unless there is a classification of vehicles when a tax is started, it will be flawed. 100 miles in a heavy truck does much more damage to the roads than 100 miles on a motorcycle.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Do you think that this tax will be paid by anyone making under $250,000 per year. Will this cause our food, energy, and other products to go up in price, will the cost of trains, planes, and taxis go up and last but not least will it cause the economy and jobs to become even more depressed than they are now?
Only the "rich" must drive. Box, are you out there to defend this along with SS Savage?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Only the "rich" must drive. Box, are you out there to defend this along with SS Savage?
Graham This is the first I've heard of it... and this issue involves me how???
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
You're confused GB - Tom (aka boxy) doesn't even live in Schenectady County.
That's why he never posts in the Rotterdam or Schenectady forums.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
That's why he never posts in the Rotterdam or Schenectady forums.
I did live and work in Rotterdam and Schenectady. There are several posters on this board who are out of the Rotterdam or Schenectady area... some as I understand it are out the state.
Your point is???
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
As I thought... YOU HAVE NO POINT... Just aimless blather.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
As I thought... YOU HAVE NO POINT... Just aimless blather.
Its all blather when you don't agree with it.. typical "tolerant" liberal
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
That's why he never posts in the Rotterdam or Schenectady forums.
Once again... YOUR POINT IS?????
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Just stating facts, that all...of course you have a problem with that when the light is shined on you...LOL
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
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